INDIANAPOLIS – Unintentional injuries caused by firearms are a public health crisis.

Over 30,000 deaths result from firearms every year in the United States and firearms are the second leading method resulting in injury death, behind motor vehicle crashes.

Firearm violence and suicide in Indiana are public health issues. People of all ages and races, regardless of income or level of education, are dying needless violent deaths.

For the last decade, the overall firearm related death rate in Indiana has been higher than that of the nation as a whole. Suicide is the second leading cause of injury and death in the state and nearly 60 percent of gun deaths in the state are suicides.

In an effort to reduce suicides and firearm related deaths, the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence in conjunction with Clarian Health and NAMI Indianapolis (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) will hold a conference on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian Street from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. The conference is entitled “Understanding, Preventing and Responding to Firearm Violence and Suicide: How the Faith Community Can Make A Difference.”

The objectives of the meeting are to:

* Explain who is at risk for suicide or gun injuries.

* Present ideas for helping someone who is threatening suicide or at risk for gun injuries.

* Describe why gun violence and suicide are community-wide problems affecting all neighborhoods.

* Highlight faith community initiatives related to non-violence.

* Launch a faith community stipend training course related to suicide and firearm violence prevention.

* Discuss theological perspectives on suicide.

“Many persons in distress turn to their church for help, and this provides a crucial window of opportunity for the faith leaders to intervene and provide information and resources that could prevent a violent event in that person’s life,” said Marilyn Bull, MD, medical director of the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence.

In 2003, 471 people sustained gunshot injuries in Marion County and 151 of them died. Among victims with gunshot wounds, 321 were African American and 139 were White.

In Marion County alone in 2002, over $5 million were spent on medical care related to firearm injuries. Most studies indicate that approximately 50 percent of these costs are cover by taxpayer dollars.